“All the Cottages Were Flooded”: Diaspora Donations Fund Repairs at a Faith-Based Home in St James

• Hurricane Melissa flooded Mustard Seed Communities’ Blessed Assurance home in St James
• The JN Foundation’s ISupportJamaica Fund gave about $1.4 million towards repairs
• The fund draws on contributions from Jamaicans overseas and friends of Jamaica
• Mustard Seed’s executive director, Father Garvin Augustine, said rebuilding had begun

When Hurricane Melissa struck western Jamaica in October 2025, one of the places it hit hard was Blessed Assurance, a home in St James run by the faith-based charity Mustard Seed Communities. In April 2026 the Gleaner reported that the home would carry out critical repairs with about $1.4 million raised through the JN Foundation’s ISupportJamaica Fund.

Father Garvin Augustine, executive director of Mustard Seed Communities, described what the storm left behind. “All the cottages were flooded, bedding and furniture were destroyed, and there was no access to the property for days because the road was completely washed away,” he said. The Gleaner reported that floodwaters reached roof level in some areas. “But through the generosity of our partners and the wider community, we have been able to begin the long and difficult process of rebuilding,” he added.

The ISupportJamaica Fund was set up by the JN Foundation and draws contributions from Jamaicans overseas and friends of Jamaica. Omar Wright, the foundation’s lead for environment and community development, explained why Mustard Seed was chosen: “Mustard Seed Communities makes for a worthy beneficiary, as the organisation is strong on mission credibility, operational competence and institutional trust.” He said the aim was to reach vulnerable communities, particularly the elderly and persons living with disabilities, who may not have received emergency services or relief since the hurricane.

The story shows a common post-disaster problem for faith-based care homes. Their buildings house people who cannot easily move or rebuild on their own, their roads and utilities are often in remote areas, and their budgets depend on donations. When cottages flood, the loss is not just property; it is the beds, furniture and access that make the care possible.

For the diaspora, the story shows that overseas giving can go straight into bricks and mortar at home when it passes through trusted channels. For churches and faith-based charities that own residential property, it is a prompt to check what their insurance covers, how their buildings are sited, and what records donors will want to see. Institutional trust, as Wright put it, is what makes that money flow.

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